ABU DHABI, – The National Drilling Company (NDC), an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Group company, celebrated, today, the graduation of 350 Emiratis from the NDC Drilling Training Center. The graduates will take up positions in ADNOC, ranging from rig managers, to drillers, mechanics and other trades essential for efficient and safe onshore and offshore well-drilling operations.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, attended the graduation ceremony, held at NDC’s Bida’a Al Oshaneh Base, in Al Gharbia (Abu Dhabi’s Western Region). He praised the trainees for their commitment, dedication and hard work and underscored ADNOC’s commitment to investing in people and developing young Emirati talent to enable them to excel professionally and reach their full potential, for the benefit of the UAE’s development and the ADNOC Group’s continued success.

Dr Al Jaber said: “Our training programs reflect ADNOC’s responsibility to develop a world class work force, linked to our business needs and priorities. Our programs also demonstrate our unwavering support for Emiratisation, by providing more skilled employment opportunities for nationals, in line with the UAE socio-economic objectives.

“All of today’s graduates will take up positions at ADNOC’s onshore and offshore rigs, operated by NDC, boosting the numbers of skilled young Emiratis employed in the UAE’s oil and gas sector. The professional training provided by NDC, will enable today’s graduates to play an important role in ADNOC’s continued long-term success by ensuring efficient, profitable and safe drilling operations.”

Prior to the graduation ceremony, Dr Al Jaber toured NDC’s Drilling Training Centre, where he met staff and stressed the important contribution high quality training makes to the development of the nation’s knowledge economy.

Today’s batch of Emirati graduates, will join the 95 UAE nationals who completed their training last year and took up jobs at ADNOC’s onshore and offshore rigs and other operation locations. A further 500 Emirati trainees are enrolled in the various training programs offered by NDC’s Drilling Training Centre.

Abdalla Saeed Al Suwaidi, NDC CEO, said it was a proud moment for everyone at NDC to see so many UAE Nationals graduate from the Drilling Training Centre.

“Your determination and exemplary performance has helped you become fully equipped and prepared to shoulder your responsibilities efficiently and competently,” Al Suwaidi said. “I am confident you will fulfill your potential and show the commitment, dedication and hard work required to support NDC and ADNOC’s evolution into a more resilient company.”

NDC’s Drilling Training Centre is unique in the region. With its state-of-the-art facilities, proficient instructors and training staff, the center offers tailor-made training programs and customized courses to develop a highly competent, confident, and professional workforce capable of operating ADNOC’s technologically advanced rigs, while maintaining the highest levels of HSE and asset integrity.

The center is equipped with a drilling rig simulation system. The centerpiece of the system is a simulator with virtual-reality screens, with numerous gauges, joysticks, control valves, levers and buttons. The simulator helps familiarize trainees with the well control operations of a rig, and introduces them to the work environment in the drilling locations.

Established in 1972, NDC is one of the largest drilling contractors in the Middle East. Since 2010, when it had 28 rigs, it has expanded its operations three-fold, in response to customer demand, with 94 rigs in its fleet. Since Rig ND-1 began work in 1973, NDC’s drilling fleet has drilled over 7,000 wells.